CDFAM Computational Design Symposium

Recorded at CDFAM Computational Design Symposium, NYC, October 29-30, 2025https://cdfam.com/nyc-2025/Organization:New BalancePresenter:Samuel WhitworthComputational Craft: One Footwear Designer’s Quest To Replace HimselfPresentation AbstractFootwear design, like many design domains, has long been defined by the combination of two-dimensional drawings and designers’ intuition. While these remain important elements of the field, various digital design methods are currently surging and have significantly altered the traditional footwear design process. This presentation will explore the opportunities presented by this shif...

OrganizationVARIANT3DPresenter:Will SamosirKnit Everything: Surfaces, Systems, and the Future of TextilesPresentation AbstractWhat if anyone who can draw could knit?VARIANT3D exists to break down the barriers to textile manufacturing. Our proprietary software LOOP is the first and only WYSIWYG CAD system for knitting that requires zero knowledge about how knitting works.Unlike conventional knit engineering, which demands months of expert iteration, LOOP lets anyone access a vast library of knit structures and generate machine-ready files in...

OrganizationEaton + Intact SolutionsPresenter:Karthik Rajan VenkatesanNeel KumarAccelerating Metal-to-Plastic Conversion with AI, Implicit CAD, and Mesh-Free SimulationPresentation AbstractThis work presents a simulation-driven generative design framework for reengineering a metallic explosion-proof enclosure into a lightweight, injection-molded fiber-reinforced plastic alternative. The methodology integrates advanced process and performance simulations with AI-guided optimization to enable rapid, intelligent design iteration.Central to this workflow is the use of implicit CAD modeling in nTop, which allows for highly flexible and parameterized geometry generation, seamlessly...

Organization:NovineerPresenter:Dr. Ali TamijaniSimulation and Optimization for FFF/FDM Printed PartsPresentation AbstractAdditive manufacturing with FFF/FDM 3D printing has long struggled to optimize toolpaths for better structural performance. Traditional slicing software failed to fully take advantage of material anisotropy, missing opportunities to boost strength and stiffness. Novineer’s toolpath optimization software changes this by maximizing material properties through tailored print paths based on load paths, resulting in a 60% increase in structural stiffness without changing the geometry.Speaker BioDr...

Recorded at CDFAM Computational Design Symposium, NYC, October 29-30, 2025https://cdfam.com/nyc-2025/Organization:Alloy EnterprisesPresenter:Ryan O’HaraShaping Flow: Computational Design Strategies for High-Performance Liquid Heat ExchangersPresentation AbstractAt Alloy Enterprises, we combine traditional CAD, implicit geometry modeling, and advanced simulation workflows to engineer high-performance cold plates tailored to the unique thermal and dimensional requirements of each customer. Our approach begins with a curated library of optimized, periodic internal geometries that serve as a foundation for thermal performance and ma...

Recorded at CDFAM Computational Design Symposium, NYC, October 29-30, 2025https://cdfam.com/nyc-2025/Organization:FlexcomputePresenter:Gregory Roberts + Qiqi WangReal-Time Computer-Aided Optimization (CAO): How GPU-Native CFD Changes the IndustryPresentation AbstractComputer-aided engineering (CAE) has been a foundational tool in aerospace and photonics design, but slow workflows, high costs, and constrained design exploration limit its potential. Traditional methods rely heavily on intuition and a few simulations to validate designs, leaving vast opportunities untapped. However, a paradigm shift is underway: integrating mathematical optimization...

Recorded at CDFAM Computational Design Symposium, NYC, October 29-30, 2025https://cdfam.com/nyc-2025/Organization:C-InfinityPresenter:Sai NelaturiAssembly Configuration SpacesPresentation AbstractAll non-trivial hardware products are assembled. They are also designed and manufactured in multiple configurations to serve diverse customer needs. Product designs define a configuration space of options that can be instantiated into variants per customer order. OEMs seek to maximize reuse of subassemblies across this space to balance flexibility with cost efficiency—especially in high-mix, low-volume manufacturing.Th...

Recorded at CDFAM Computational Design Symposium, NYC, October 29-30, 2025https://cdfam.com/nyc-2025/OrganizationCarbonPresenter:Andrew SinkPodium Performance: The Future is PersonalPresentation AbstractIn this presentation, learn how world-renowned saddle manufacturer, fizik, has embraced the latest in computational design, customization automation and advanced manufacturing to offer cyclists– from amateur to elite– a one-of-a-kind 3d printed saddle, tuned to their specific needs.The One-to-One saddle leverages each partner’s expertise– fizik’s dedication to saddle craftsmanship, Carbon’s groundbreaking lattice desi...

Recorded at CDFAM Computational Design Symposium, NYC, October 29-30, 2025https://cdfam.com/nyc-2025/OrganizationMoon Rabbit Lab X PUMAPresenter:Jesus Marini ParissiRunning Revolution: Computational Design Behind Fast-R NITRO Elite 3Presentation AbstractThe Fast-R NITROTM Elite 3 marks a true performance revolution, combining cutting-edge engineering with data-driven design. As part of the Collaboration with PUMA, Moon Rabbit Lab developed a computational design workflow that integrates digital simulation, biomechanical analysis and advanced optimization techniques that combined different KPI’s of the shoe’s performance before the firs...

Organization:Not a RobotPresenter:Matt ShomperRecorded at CDFAM Computational Design Symposium, NYC, October 29-30, 2025https://cdfam.com/nyc-2025/Intelligent Anatomic Models from CT Utilizing MLPresentation AbstractThis presentation discusses an accessible system that takes CT scans and automatically turns them into detailed 3D models while intelligently tagging important anatomical features. Instead of engineers and researchers spending hours manually creating these models and identifying landmarks, our approach uses machine learning to do the heavy lifting.The process works by feeding CT...

Organization:Carnegie Mellon UniversityPresenter:Chris McCombRecorded at CDFAM Computational Design Symposium, NYC, October 29-30, 2025https://cdfam.com/nyc-2025/AI and the Battle for the Soul of DesignPresentation AbstractArtificial intelligence is reshaping the landscape of design and additive manufacturing, accelerating creative workflows while challenging long-held assumptions about authorship, originality, and human intuition. As AI becomes more deeply embedded in computational design tools, it offers unprecedented capabilities for exploration, optimization, and customization—often revealing solutions that elude tr...

OrganizationHDR IncPresenters:Matthew Goldsberry & Junling ZhuangRecorded at CDFAM Computational Design Symposium, NYC, October 29-30, 2025https://cdfam.com/nyc-2025/Presentation AbstractWhile AI is often used for visualization in architecture, its potential to directly generate and shape geometry within the design process is still emerging. This presentation explores how we have been integrating model-aware AI agents into our design process.We begin with Synthesizer, a custom browser-based modeling tool paired with an Arduino-powered physical controller. Through a simple physical controller, designers trigger higher-order...

We open Season 5 of the CDFAM podcast with a keynote presentation from the CDFAM Computational Design Symposium NYC 2025 by Markus J. Buehler, McAfee Professor of Engineering at MIT.In this session, Buehler outlines how AI is becoming an autonomous partner in scientific discovery—capable not only of analysis but of generating new knowledge. Drawing on examples from materials science and bioengineering, he presents multi-agent AI systems designed to reason, hypothesize, and evolve—creating a framework for discovery engines that extend the boundaries of human-led research.Buehler’s work brings together reinforcement learning, graph-based reasoning, and physic...

Organization:Cornell UniversityPresenter:Tiffany ChengBioinspired And Biobased 4D-Printing For Adaptive Building FacadesPresentation AbstractWhat if our buildings and products could be manufactured and operated the way biological systems grow and adapt? As an alternative to conventional construction and manufacturing, I will present a bioinspired approach to making through material programming and 4D-printing. By integrating material, structure, and function, plants change shape over varying spatial-temporal scales in response to external stimuli. I will introduce how computational fabrication enable the bioinspired interplay of cellulosic...

Organization:Key WardPresenter:Asparuh StoyanovBuilding Surrogate Models for Physics Simulation using a No-Code ApproachPresentation AbstractThis project demonstrates a no-code methodology for building surrogate models for engineering simulation. Using such methods, physics simulation analysts can tap seamlessly into the potential of surrogate models, transforming traditional simulation workflows to be more efficient and flexible. In this abstract, we present a workflow of how to use simulation result data to build a 3D surrogate model that any analyst can utilize without requiring programming skills—en...

Recorded at CDFAM Computational Design Symposium, Amsterdam , 2025 https://cdfam.com/amsterdam-2025/ Organization: DTU Presenter: Luca Breseghello Stress-Based Design Of Lightweight Horizontal Structures For 3D Concrete Printing Presentation Abstract Concrete is one of the most widely used materials in construction, but it’s also a major contributor to CO₂ emissions. In mid-rise buildings, slabs and beams alone account for over 40% of the concrete used. This raises an important question: how can we build these elements more efficiently while reducing their environmental impact? In this talk, I’ll share how robotic 3D Concrete Printi...

Recorded at CDFAM Computational Design Symposium, Amsterdam , 2025 https://cdfam.com/amsterdam-2025/ Organization: University of Bologna Presenter: Vittoria Laghi How Topology Optimization And Additive Manufacturing Can Create A New Generation Of Green Steel Construction Presentation Abstract The digitalization of the construction sector could potentially produce more efficient structures, reduce material waste and increase work safety. Current strategies for the realization of automated steel constructions see the application of metal 3D printing processes as an opportunity to build a new generation of efficient steel structures with reduced material use. This, though...

Recorded at CDFAM Computational Design Symposium, Amsterdam , 2025 https://cdfam.com/amsterdam-2025/ Organization: McNeel & cydric.com Presenter: Mathias Fuchs Rhino, Grasshopper 2, and TRfem: Computing Heat Flow Inside Solids Presentation Abstract While environmental analysis tools in Rhino typically focus on surfaces and 2D domains, optimization workflows in design for additive manufacturing often require analyzing physical properties inside solids. In this talk, we introduce some of the key novelties of Grasshopper 2 for Rhino, we show why its concept of field manipulation is an ideal platform for such tasks, and present TRmesh and...

Recorded at CDFAM Computational Design Symposium, Amsterdam , 2025 https://cdfam.com/amsterdam-2025/ Organization: Cognitive Design Systems Presenter: Rhushik MATROJA Manufacturing Driven Design Presentation Abstract Cognitive Design Systems integrates Manufacturing-Driven Design (MDD) and Simulation-Driven Design into its proprietary Cognitive Design software, transforming the way products are conceived. This innovative approach enables engineers to convert concepts into manufacturable, high-performance designs within seconds. With automated Design for Manufacturing (DfM) checks and real-time modifications, the software ensures compatibility with processes like Additive Manufacturing, Machining, Die Casting, Injection Molding, and Forging. Proven through collaborations with Safran, Thales...

Recorded at CDFAM Computational Design Symposium, Amsterdam , 2025https://cdfam.com/amsterdam-2025/Organization: ToffeeX Presenter: Thomas Rees Physics-Driven Generative Design for Laser Powder Bed Fusion in Aerospace Presentation Abstract Laser Powder Bed Fusion (L-PBF) has shown transformative potential for the aerospace industry, with substantial investments being directed globally to leverage its benefits. However, broader industrial adoption of L-PBF faces barriers primarily due to limitations in the performance of components manufactured with the technique, productivity of the technique, and scalability of the technology. These limitations currently hinder L-PBF’s co...